Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry of Silver-Doped (GeS(2))(50)(Sb(2)S(3))(50) Chalcogenide Glasses

[Image: see text] Mass spectra of (GeS(2))(50)(Sb(2)S(3))(50) glass and Ag-doped glasses [5% Ag (GeS(2))(50)(Sb(2)S(3))(50) and 15% Ag (GeS(2))(50)(Sb(2)S(3))(50)] obtained using laser desorption ionization (LDI) time-of-flight coupled with quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry were studied. The analysis of the mass spectra indicated the formation of Ag(a)Ge(b)Sb(c)S(d) clusters. In addition to the SbS(d)(+) (d = 1 and 2), Sb(2)S(d)(+) (d = 1–3), Sb(3)S(d)(+) (d = 1–5), Sb(4)S(d)(+) (d = 3 and 4), Sb(5)S(2)(+), and Sb(c)(+) (c = 3 and 5) clusters, various clusters containing Ag, such as Ag(a)(+) (a = 1 and 2), AgGeS(+), AgSb(c)(+) (c = 1, 2, and 4), AgSbS(+), AgSb(2)S(d)(+) (d = 1–5), AgSb(3)S(3)(+), AgSb(4)S(4)(+), Ag(2)Sb(3)S(d)(+) (d = 4 and 5), Ag(4)Sb(2)S(3)(+), and Ag(5)SbS(3)(+), were generated. Moreover, in spite of the five-ninth purity of all glass components, several hydrogenated clusters (SbS(3)H(8)(+), Sb(4)S(2)H(+), Ag(2)H(11)(+), Ag(2)Sb(3)H(4)(+), Ag(3)Sb(2)H(4)(+), Ag(4)Sb(2)H(2)(+), and Ag(4)S(3)H(8)(+)) and some low-intensity oxidized clusters, such as Sb(3)O(+) and Sb(3)O(5)(+), were also detected. When applying LDI on (GeS(2))(50)(Sb(2)S(3))(50) glass, no Ge-containing clusters were detected in the positive ion mode, and just one Ge-containing cluster was observed after doping the glass with Ag. Hydrogen plays an important role in the glasses studied. The knowledge gained concerning cluster stoichiometry contributes to the elucidation of the structure of Ag-doped Ge–Sb–S chalcogenide glasses. It should be noted that some of the clusters were considered to be structural fragments. Furthermore, mass spectrometry was complemented with Raman spectroscopy.